KEY POINTS

  • Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will temporarily leave the club in January
  • The Reds could sign a striker to fill the said void
  • Jurgen Klopp may just rely on his other strikers such as Divock Origi, who had just stepped up against Wolves

Liverpool is about to face a major dilemma in the frontline, and a transfer could be the immediate solution.

Things could get a bit challenging for Liverpool next year as two of the club’s top performers Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will have to leave to respond to their nation’s call-up.

The pair will depart to the Africa Cup of Nations to represent their respective countries from January 9 to February 6.

As a result, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp would need to find a credible striker to fill the huge void.

It can be recalled that Klopp had already said early in the season that Liverpool will not be leaning towards adding more players unless needed.

Apparently, that is not bound to change even if Salah and Mane leave.

Raving about Liverpool’s Divock Origi after the club’s recent win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Klopp hinted at the possibility that the Belgian striker could be the frontline scorer who could temporarily replace Salah and Mane next month.

“He is an incredible finisher and if we don’t know it at Liverpool then who should know it? We saw that so often,” Klopp said of Origi. “It is difficult to get 500 minutes a week in the team because of the players we have. But Divock Origi is an incredible football player. He is great in these moments."

Liverpool striker Divock Origi (right) celebrates his late winning goal against Wolves
Divock Origi now has scored a winner for Liverpool in two consecutive matches. AFP / JUSTIN TALLIS

The German even stressed that Origi is the type of player any club will go after without having second thoughts.

“If I would be in another club, I would go for him (Origi),” the manager shared. “I thought that would happen because he didn’t have fantastic game time. But I cannot believe if you don’t play for Liverpool, you cannot be good. This team is outstanding, and if you are here and are number 12 or 13 or 14, you are outstanding."

“I am very happy he is still here! I didn’t expect it to happen but I wouldn’t have been surprised (had he left),” he continued. “He’s a top striker, top boy. That is how it is. He has been for a long time here at Liverpool. He has scored some of the most important goals in the history of this club.”

Liverpool will probably play two or three important games in the weeks when Salah and Mane are not around.

During the said stretch, Klopp will be hoping for Origi and the rest of his attackers to step up.

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